Essential Guide: Supporting Notebooks and Warranty Concerns

1. A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e Chapter 21 Supporting Notebooks

2. Objectives • Learn about special considerations when supporting notebooks that are different from supporting desktop computers • Learn how to install, configure, optimize, troubleshoot, and repair peripheral devices used with notebooks • Learn how to troubleshoot, upgrade, and replace internal notebook components A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

3. Special Considerations When Supporting Notebooks • Notebook (laptop): portable computer • Varieties: tablet PCs and netbooks • Comparing notebooks to full-sized computers • Support requires same skills • Built as a single system with modifications • Smaller, portable, and uses less power • Replacement parts cost more • Factors to consider • Warranty, service manuals, and diagnostic software • Customized OS installation, and obtaining parts A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

4. Warranty Concerns • Do not void warranty • Opening case, removing part labels, installing other-vendor parts, upgrading OS, disassembling • Contacting technical support: information needed • Notebook model and serial number • Purchaser name, phone number, address • Service options • On-site • Ship to authorized service center • Phone assistance A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

5. Figure 21-2 The model and serial number stamped on the bottom of a notebook are used to identify the notebook to service desk personnel. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

6. Service Manuals and Other Sources of Information • Service manuals save time • Enables safe notebook disassembly • Locating documentation • Manufacturer’s physical manual • Internet • Manufacturer’s Web site • Third party websites • User manual • Provides basic maintenance tasks A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

7. Figure 21-3 A notebook service manual tells you how to use diagnostic tools, troubleshoot a notebook, and replace components. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 21-4 The Compaq Web site (www.hp.com) provides detailed instructions for troubleshooting and replacing components. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

8. Diagnostic Tools Provided By Manufacturers • Pinpoints problem components • Sources: • Manufacturer’s Web site • CDs bundled with the notebook • Hard drive or floppy disk • Example: PC-Doctor • Included with Lenovo, IBM ThinkPad, Fujitsu, and HP notebooks • Can be purchased separately A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

9. The OEM Operating System Build • Operating system preinstalled at the factory • Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) • OS Build • Customized installation of the OS • Proprietary drivers • Customized diagnostic software • Use caution when upgrading to new OS A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

10. The OEM Operating System Build (cont’d.) • Recovery CDs and recovery partitions • Contains installable version of OS preinstalled on the notebook • Provided by manufacturer • CD bundled with PC or requested from manufacturer • Hard drive partition can contain OS • May be hidden • Files protected from access • See user manual for access • Additional software on CD • Drivers and application setup programs A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

11. Figure 21-6 This notebook hard drive has a recovery partition that can be used to recover the system. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

12. The OEM Operating System Build (cont’d.) • Operating system upgrades • Perform only if necessary • Tips: • Upgrade using OS build from the OEM • Ensure supporting device drivers included • Follow OEM’s specific instructions • Off-the-shelf OS advice: • Verify system component compatibility • Ensure device drivers available • Flash BIOS before upgrade, if necessary A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

13. Caring For Notebooks • General guidelines: • Do not touch LCD panel with sharp objects • Do not connect notebook to phone line in a storm • Use OEM recommended battery packs • Use passwords with each Windows user account • Do not tightly pack in a suitcase • Do not pick up or hold by the display panel • Do not move while hard drive is being accessed • Do not put close to appliances generating strong magnetic field A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

14. Caring For Notebooks (cont’d.) • General guidelines: (cont’d.) • Keep OS current • Never use public connection without a software firewall • Keep notebook at a controlled temperature • Keep away from smoke, water, sand • Do not power up and down unnecessarily • Do not power on unless at room temperature • Protect notebook against ESD • Remove CD/DVD before traveling • Take precautions if notebook gets wet A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

15. Caring For Notebooks (cont’d.) • Cleaning tips: • Do not disassemble for routine cleaning • Clean LCD panel with a soft dry cloth • Use compressed air • Keyboard, track ball, touch pad, air vents, sticking keys • Use contact cleaner • Under key caps • Battery connections A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

16. Supporting Notebook Peripheral Devices • Ports on the back or sides for connecting peripherals Figure 21-8 Ports on the back of a notebook Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

17. Port Replicators and Docking Stations • Port replicator • Easy connection to full-sized monitor, keyboard, AC power adapter, and other devices • Docking station • Same functions as port replicator • Additional slots for adding secondary storage devices and expansion cards • Hardware profiles • XP: enables storage of hardware configurations • Vista: not required A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

18. Figure 21-11 A docking station can provide extra secondary storage for a laptop. Courtesy of IBM Corporation Figure 21-10 A port replicator makes it convenient to connect a notebook computer to resources and peripherals at your office. Courtesy of IBM Corporation A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

19. PC Card, CardBus, and ExpressCard Slots • Connect peripheral devices to notebooks • Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) • Develops standards for PC card slots • PCMCIA cards • Used in many devices • Include variations of PC Card, CardBus, ExpressCard • Three standards pertaining to size and thickness • Type 1, Type II, Type III A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

20. PC Card, CardBus, and ExpressCard Slots (cont’d.) • PC Card slot technologies • 16-bit ISA and 32-bit PCI • CardBus • Increases bus width to 32 bits • Backward compatible with earlier standards • ExpressCard matches PCI Express and USB 2.0 • Two sizes: ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 • Not backward compatible • Hot-pluggable, hot-swappable, and supports autoconfiguration A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

21. PC Card, CardBus, and ExpressCard Slots (cont’d.) • Windows services for PC Card or ExpressCard • Socket service and card service • Removing card from PC card or ExpressCard slot • Click Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in system tray • Click Stop to open Stop a Hardware device dialog box • Click OK and proceed to eject the card • Tips: • Ensure system turned on when inserting card • Install drivers before inserting card A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

22. Using Bluetooth, Cellular, and Wi-Fi Connections • Embedded wireless network adapter • Connects Wi-Fi network • Bluetooth or infrared adapter • Supports personal area network (PAN) • Supporting Wi-Fi connections • Internal wireless adapter uses internal antenna • External wireless adapter may need external antenna A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

23. Using Bluetooth, Cellular, and Wi-Fi Connections (cont’d.) • Supporting Bluetooth connections • Verify wireless switch turned on • Verify Windows sees Bluetooth enabled • Download all windows updates • Look in Device Manager for errors • Make sure other device has Bluetooth turned on • Lower Bluetooth software security mode • Uninstall and reinstall the Bluetooth drivers • Use manufacturers websites A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

24. Using Bluetooth, Cellular, and Wi-Fi Connections (cont’d.) • Supporting Cellular WAN Connections • Notebook WiMAX device • ExpressCard or PC Card slot or USB port • Internet card (air card) • Device connecting to a cell phone network • Mobile broadband Internet access on a 3G network • Use Internet card and mobile service Figure 21-23 Sierra Wireless AirCard 402 modem card fits a PC Card or ExpressCard slot Courtesy of Sierra Wireless A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

25. Using Bluetooth, Cellular, and Wi-Fi Connections (cont’d.) • Troubleshooting cellular WAN connection • Check Device Manager and Event Viewer • Install Windows updates • Reinstall software • Check cellular WAN provider Web site • Check notebook and Internet card manufacturer websites • Activate card in the service provider coverage area • Verify software firewall allows application access A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

26. Power and Electrical Devices • Notebook power sources • AC adapter, DC adapter, battery pack • Auto-switching AC adapter feature • Device automatically switches from 110 V to 220 V AC power • Types of batteries: • Ni-Cad (nickel-cadmium) • NiMH (nickel-metal-hydride) • Lithium Ion • Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC): experimental A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

27. Power and Electrical Devices (cont’d.) • Notebook power needs • One or more batteries, a DC adapter for travel, an AC adapter at home and for recharging the batteries • Inverter changes DC to AC Figure 21-25 An inverter changes DC to AC and provides an outlet for your laptop’s AC adapter Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

28. Power and Electrical Devices (cont’d.) • General dos and don’ts: • Use extra battery packs • Learn how to recharge, use, and store a battery • Use OS power-management features • Connect to electrical outlet to use DVD or burn a CD • Use standby and hibernate modes • Plug into AC/DC outlet upon battery low message • Reduce LCD panel brightness to conserve power • Use external surge protector • Verify notebook has power A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

29. Power Management • ACPI-compliant BIOS helps manage power • Minimize power consumption • Varying degrees of suspend or sleep modes • Vista power-saving states • Sleep mode: corresponds to ACPI S3 mode • Hibernation: work is saved to hard drive and powers system down • Hybrid sleep: work is saved to hard drive and system maintains a trickle of power • Windows XP standby corresponds to ACPI S3 mode A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

30. Power Management (cont’d.) • Managing power in Windows • Vista: Power Options window • XP: Power Options Properties dialog box • Example: hibernates after set time • Wake on LAN • Wired or wireless network activity powers up or wakes up computer • Feature must be enabled in BIOS setup • Network adapter or wireless network adapter must be configured to wake the computer A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

31. Input Devices • Keyboard: primary laptop input device • Common laptop pointing devices • Touch pad, TrackPoint or point stick, USB wired or wireless mouse, and graphics tablet Figure 21-37 The touch pad is the most common pointing device on a notebook Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

32. Input Devices (cont’d.) • Graphics tablet (digitizing tablet or digitizer) • Uses a USB port and stylus that works like a pencil Figure 21-39 A graphics tablet and stylus are used to digitize a hand drawing. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

33. Input Devices (cont’d.) • Adjust touch pad or TrackPoint • Mouse Properties box: • Adjust pointer speed, mouse trails, pointer size, how the touch pad buttons work, other settings for pointing devices • Tablet PCs • Stylus controlled from the Pen and Input Devices box • Accessed from Vista or XP Control Panel • Pointing device software provides utility to manage the device A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

34. Video • Laptop video system • LCD panel • Video controller • Embedded on motherboard • Video card installed as an internal component • Laptop ports • Analog 15-pin VGA port • External monitor • S-Video Out port • Allows television as an external display device A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

35. Video (cont’d.) • Troubleshooting problems with video • LCD panel shows a black screen and power light on • Verify LCD cutoff switch or button on • Use an external monitor to check Device Manager and Event Viewer • Update video drivers • Potential problem with LCD panel assembly • Verify LCD panel display settings • Update video drivers • Adjust brightness A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

36. Troubleshooting, Replacing, and Upgrading Internal Parts • Topics: • Alternatives to consider before taking on complex repair projects • How to upgrade memory • How to exchange a drive • How to perform other complex repair projects • Exchanging an LCD panel or motherboard A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

37. Three Approaches to Dealing with a Broken Internal Device • Factors to consider before starting repair project: • Time the repair will take • Alternatives to fixing (upgrading) • Return notebook to OEM or service center • Substitute external component for internal device • Replace the internal device A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

38. Three Approaches to Dealing with a Broken Internal Device (cont’d.) • Substitute internal device with an external device • Disable internal device within BIOS setup • Install external peripheral device • Preparation for servicing notebook • Back up important data if possible • Protect against ESD • Remove PC Cards, CDs, and DVDs • Turn off attached devices, and shut down notebook • Disconnect AC adapter • Undock (if necessary) and remove the battery A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

39. Upgrading Memory • Memory used in notebooks • SO-DIMMs (small outline DIMMs) • SO-RIMMs (small outline RIMMs) • MicroDIMMs • Smaller than SO-DIMMs and have a 64-bit data path Figure 21-45 Installing a MicroDIMM in a subnotebook computer Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

40. Table 21-2 Memory modules used in notebook computers A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

41. Upgrading Memory (cont’d.) • How to upgrade notebook memory: • Upgrade process is similar to desktops • Considerations: • Make sure warranty not being voided • Search for best buy on a suitable and authorized part • General steps: • Decide how much memory to upgrade • Purchase memory • Install it A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

42. Replacing a Hard Drive • General guidelines: • Check with OEM for drive sizes and connector types • Be aware of voiding manufacturer’s warranty • Watch for proprietary form factors and connectors • Shopping: • Notebook drive: 2.5 inches wide • May use SSD (solid state device) technology • Hard drives connector: SATA connector or 44-pin IDE • IDE drive may use adapter to interface between proprietary connector and motherboard 44-pin IDE connector A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

43. Replacing a Hard Drive (cont’d.) • Issues to consider before replacing hard drive: • Old drive crashed • Recovery CD and notebook drivers CDs required • Upgrade: must transfer data from old drive to new one • Older notebook computers required disassembly • Newer notebooks: easy to replace • If BIOS setup uses autodetect: • System boots up and BIOS recognizes new drive • Searches for an operating system • If a new drive: boot from Windows recovery CD A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

44. Figure 21-53 This one screw holds the hard drive in position Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 21-54 Push the drive out of its bay Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

45. Disassembling and Reassembling a Notebook Computer • Requires special tools and extra patience Figure 21-55 To protect the system against ESD, attach the alligator clip of a ground strap to an I/O port on the back of the notebook. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 21-56 Tools for disassembling a notebook computer. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

46. Disassembling and Reassembling a Notebook Computer (cont’d.) • Many small screws of various sizes, lengths • Work methodically: • Keep screws and components organized • Place screws in a pillbox (label each compartment) • Place screws on soft padded work surface • Use white labeling tape • Place screws on notebook paper • Write where screw belongs • Tape screw beside manufacturer documentation • Keep notes to help with reassembly A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

47. Figure 21-58 Using a notepad can help you organize screws so you know which screw goes where when reassembling Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 21-59 Tape screws beside the step in the manufacturer documentation that told you to remove the screw. Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

48. Disassembling and Reassembling a Notebook Computer (cont’d.) • Disassembly tips: • Find the hardware service manual • Consider the warranty • Take the time necessary, do not force anything • Protect against ESD • Understand ZIF connectors • Pry up plastic covers with dental pick or small screwdriver • Plastic screws may be used only once • Disassemble components in order A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

49. Disassembling and Reassembling a Notebook Computer (cont’d.) • Reassembly tips: • Reassemble notebook in the reverse order • Tighten, but not over tighten, all screws • Before installing the battery or AC adapter verify there are no loose parts inside the notebook A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e

50. Disassembling and Reassembling a Notebook Computer (cont’d.) • Replacing the keyboard: • Power down and unplug notebook • Remove screws on notebook bottom • Open Lid • Push keyboard toward lid while pulling it up to release it from the case • Bring keyboard out of the case and forward • Expose keyboard ribbon cable • Use screwdriver to lift cable connector up and out • Replace keyboard following steps in reverse order A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, 7e